Of course!!! why not?? He just turned 25 so that's essentially a draft pick that's now NFL seasoned. For all you naysayers AGAIN, that don't want to part with a draft pick for anyone..what's the difference here? Are we going to draft someone better at slot 22? I could see if we were talking about someone older but this guy is young and on the rise. How is the risk any worse than using the pick, which is more of a gamble. This is a "known" versus an "unknown". No brainer decsion here...but of course the Pats won't part with the pick so lets not waste our breaths. They'll trade down out of 22 anyway!

The thing we can't answer is would he fit the Pats. If there are players out there that meet their needs, Brandon Marhsall and Edwards certainly fit that, they've almost certainly had internal discussions.

The Pats have traded up (ex Warren) or down (ex Mayo) depending on who's on the board and who the trade partners are.

He is a DE in a 4-3.....do we know if he is worth a 1st rnd pick and what it would cost to retain him and will he fit in here? The last time we overpaid for a DE to convert to OLB, he was a bust....remember A Thomas?

25 years old, 6'5, 265. Had 12.5 sacks last season (regular and post season). If we drafted a pass rusher at #22, wouldn't we be HOPING he becomes Ray Edwards? I'd trade #22 for him without blinking, with the one stipulation being that his contract talks don't get out of hand.Posted by pyegian

I would agree with you on this one, this guy is an already proven pro and with that size would be very helpful where as with a draft you have no idea what they will do in the pros so I also would make this trade

In Response to Re: Do we want Ray Edwards? : I would agree with you on this one, this guy is an already proven pro and with that size would be very helpful where as with a draft you have no idea what they will do in the pros so I also would make this tradePosted by Stompper

When in the pros did he play in a 3-4 as an OLB? Last time we did that, we got burnt.....

m1021us, you ask when did he play 3-4 OLB, and the answer is never. However, I ask you, when did any of the guys in the draft do it? Almost all of them are college DE who will be converted to OLB and that switch will be a projection.

Unfortunately, that's the nature of the beast when you run a 3-4 defense. At least Edwards has shown he can get to the quarterback in the NFL, which none of the draft picks have proven yet. The contract may make it prohibitive, but he's less of a risk than any drafted player is.

25 years old, 6'5, 265. Had 12.5 sacks last season (regular and post season). If we drafted a pass rusher at #22, wouldn't we be HOPING he becomes Ray Edwards? I'd trade #22 for him without blinking, with the one stipulation being that his contract talks don't get out of hand.Posted by pyegian

I agree. He's proven and still young, whereas Brandon Graham or whoever they draft could be a bust. And the money won't be much different. I suspect the Vikings would match any offer though, unless there's a posion pill of some sort, like the Vikings themselves did with Hutchinson.

This guy benefits from playing with Jared Allen. He'll turn into Adalius Thomas as soon as he paired with TBC.Posted by TheFantasyBaron

I totally agree with you.

This guy benefits huge in two ways:

He plays opposite the most dominant, pass rushing DE in the NFL nowadays in Jared Allen. He also benefits from the Williams wall (Pat and Kevin-who both happen to be probowlers) I think a 1st RD pick in THIS draft, along with a pretty decent sized contract that it would take to secure him, is too much to give up for this guy.

In Response to Re: Do we want Ray Edwards? : ....I think a 1st RD pick in THIS draft, along with a pretty decent sized contract that it would take to secure him, is too much to give up for this guy. Posted by tamayo2431

I think we tend to overvalue draft picks. If you draft Graham (or Kindle or whoever) at 22, you're getting a guy that might be good, might be nothing. And you're going to pay him a bunch of guaranteed money.

If you have a productive player available as a free agent that is relatively young and healthy (not necessarily talking about Edwards here, but he fits the bill), and the money it will take in a contract is comparable, why not make that deal? Why take a chance on the unknown?

m1021us, you ask when did he play 3-4 OLB, and the answer is never. However, I ask you, when did any of the guys in the draft do it? Almost all of them are college DE who will be converted to OLB and that switch will be a projection. Unfortunately, that's the nature of the beast when you run a 3-4 defense. At least Edwards has shown he can get to the quarterback in the NFL, which none of the draft picks have proven yet. The contract may make it prohibitive, but he's less of a risk than any drafted player is.Posted by pyegian

At least in College, they are not demanding the money that someone who had success in a particular system would demand.....So a college kid would make more sense to take a chance on, than converting a DE in a 4-3 who had some success to a 3-4 OLB.

tough call. Is he another A.D who benefited from his surrounding cast in baltimore or is he the real deal. When you have the d-line the vikings have I suspect he doesn't garner the other teams attention like A.D in Baltimore. So NO for a 1st rounder maybe a late second